Jewellery Focus April 2019 | Page 16

JANET FITCH TREND-WATCH Spring is in the air S ‘‘ Nothing says summer like shells, so adorn your ears, wrists and even bagstraps in all manner of brindled or polished shells ‘‘ 16 JEWELLERY FOCUS pring and summer are upon us, and several clear fashion trends are emerging – calming neutrals, feathers, frou frou and crystal fringing for party wear, florals, prints, patchwork and macramé – ‘artisanal hand work has gone high end’, to quote Vogue. Lele Sadoughi, based in New York, has been designing accessories and jewellery for almost 20 years, including ‘headbands at attainable prices’. In 2018 she decided to make them with a more comfortable fit and with jewelled options, and after the runway shows for this spring/summer were awash with hairbands, demand grew and grew. Now a new colourway sells out in five hours, and the brand’s fame has spread to the UK, starting to be stocked in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. There are pearl headbands in desert tan or graphite grey, crystal bands in pinks, lilac, neutrals, floral prints, denim, gold and this season’s pop of colour, sea foam green, and new slim petite sizes for little ones. There are scrunchies, and all co-ordinate with bold earrings, necklaces and rings ‘to maximise the look’. (www.lelesadoughi.com) Pusaka, meaning treasure or heirloom in Sanskrit, is a beautiful recycled silver filigree jewellery collection inspired by Indonesian batik iconography and craftsmanship. It is the brainchild of Indonesian born Edwin Charmain: graphic, textile and jewellery designer, collaborating with his local filigree master Rae Feather Cabbage White England Nilufer craftsman from Kota Gede, inventing a new approach to filigree making that is rooted in tradition and hidden meaning. The light and airy Kuja headpiece takes the shape of tree branches symbolising a life and a mind that is continually evolving and growing, and open to new knowledge. The collection comprises earrings, brooch and delicate hair ornaments and pins and was first shown last year at Central St. Martin’s MA Design Show, and this year Charmain took part in the Goldsmiths’ Centre Getting Started 2019 and In Flux during Munich Design Week 2019. (www.charmain.co.uk) Shells – ‘nothing says summer like shells, so adorn your ears, wrists and even bagstraps in all manner of brindled or polished shells’. So says Rae Feather, who launched her all year round resort and travel wardrobe of clothes and accessories in 2015. Rae Feather harnesses the traditional skills of women in less developed countries across the globe skilled in basket weaving, macramé, embroidery and has now launched the Shell Jewellery collection – gold plated shell bangles with two intricate shell motifs, and matching shell chain necklaces, with beads in jade green or soft ivory, decorated with a single gold plated shell pendant. (www.raefeather.com) Shells are the theme of the latest collection from Cabbage White England, set up in 2010 by Kelly Smithson, hand-making jewellery in sterling silver, gold and April 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk